Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District

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The mission of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District is to build a healthy community through effective, sustainable stewardship of the District’s parks and open space, and through the development and delivery of innovative cultural and recreation opportunities.

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Fort Ward Park

2241 Pleasant Beach Google Map

Public Comments from 7-19-11 Community Meeting

Park Overview

Fort Ward Park is a 137-acre marine park with 4,300 feet of saltwater shoreline on Rich Passage. Many of the structures in the park reflect the historic military significance of the area, but the park is well developed for day use. There is an underwater park for scuba divers, a two-lane boat ramp and a long, rocky beach along Rich Passage. This park is on the Cascade Marine Trail for a $5/person fee.

Park hours/updates:

Open year round, 8 a.m. to dusk.

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

There are 16 unsheltered picnic tables with grills, available first come, first served. The upper picnic area is accessible by automobile. The lower picnic area (along Rich Passage) is accessible by foot only.

Fees

Boat Launch $5
Cascade Marine Trail Camping $5/person/night

Driving Directions

Located on the southwest side of Bainbridge Island, along Rich Passage in Kitsap County.
Park address:
2241 Pleasant Beach (beach area)
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

From Hwy. 305:
Turn west on High School Rd. Travel to T-intersection (approximately three miles), and turn left onto Fletcher Bay Rd. Continue on Fletcher Bay Rd. to T-intersection, then turn right. This takes you past Lynnwood Center. Continue to Y-intersection. Veer right to go to the Fort Ward boat ramp, or veer left to find park entrance and upper picnic area. To get to park entrance, continue on left fork to Country Club Rd., and turn right. Turn right again on Fort Ward Rd. Park entrance is on right. (NOTE: The route is well signed from High School Rd.)

History

After World War II, the U.S. Navy used a radio tower (once located adjacent to the park and east of the upper picnic area) to send messages to Navy Command in Seattle at Pier 91.
Ft Ward
In 1903, Fort Ward was offically commissioned as a seacoast fort with the primary objective of protecting the Bremerton Naval Shipyard. Two gun batteries are located in the park. During World War II, the navy used the fort as a radio station and training school for communication personnel and installed a submarine net across Rich Passage. In 1958, the navy decommissioned the fort, and State Parks purchased Fort Ward in 1960. Ownership of the Park was transferred to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District in the Spring of 2011.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 2 mi. Hiking Trails	• Boating (saltwater) • 1 boat ramp (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Personal Watercraft (saltwater) • Water Skiing (saltwater) • Crabbing	• Beachcombing • Bird Watching • 2 Fire Circles • Sailboarding • Wildlife Viewing
A paved road parallels the beach where people can ride bikes, walk or jog.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bobcats • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Otters • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels • Weasels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Owls • Pheasants • Quail • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Clams • Crabs • Mussels • Octopuses • Oysters • Scallops • Sea Birds • Sea Cucumbers • Seals • Shellfish • Shrimp • Squid • Starfish • Whales • Bass • Cod • Eel • Perch • Red Snapper • Salmon • Shark • Steelhead • Tuna

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
		• Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Spruce • Yew • Alder • Apple • Ash • Cherry • Maple • Daisy • Foxglove • Berries • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Seaweed • Thistle • Poison Oak